handoff
by mattpocockhandoff turns the current conversation into a concise transfer document for the next agent. Use the handoff skill to capture status, decisions, blockers, and links to source artifacts instead of duplicating PRDs, plans, ADRs, issues, or diffs.
This skill scores 68/100, which means it is acceptable to list but best presented with caveats. Directory users can trigger it reliably because the purpose is explicit: compact the current conversation into a handoff document, save it via a temp file, and tailor it to an optional next-session focus. However, the repository provides only a single SKILL.md with no supporting references or examples, so users should expect some workflow ambiguity beyond the core handoff task.
- Explicit trigger and output goal: create a handoff document for the next agent, with a clear file-writing instruction.
- Good operational constraints: save to a temp path from mktemp and avoid duplicating content already captured elsewhere.
- Includes guidance to tailor the handoff to user-provided next-session goals and suggest next skills, which improves agent usefulness.
- Light supporting context: no scripts, references, resources, or examples to clarify best practices or edge cases.
- No install command or additional docs, so users may need to infer how to integrate this skill into their workflow.
Overview of handoff skill
What the handoff skill does
handoff turns the current conversation into a concise handoff document for the next agent. It is designed for moments when you need continuity fast: summarizing what matters, what was decided, and what the next session should do next.
Who should use it
Use the handoff skill if you are transferring work between sessions, handing a task to another agent, or preparing an AI-ready brief for continued execution. It is especially useful for repo work, multi-step product tasks, and any workflow where context loss would cause rework.
Why it is different
The key value of handoff is not generic summarization. It asks for an actionable document that avoids duplicating existing artifacts and points the next agent to the right source material by path or URL. That makes it more useful than a plain “summarize this chat” prompt.
How to Use handoff skill
Install handoff and start from the skill file
For a typical handoff install, add the skill from the repo and open SKILL.md first:
npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill handoff
Then read SKILL.md to understand the exact output shape and behavior before applying it to your own workflow.
Give the skill a real session target
The handoff usage pattern works best when you tell it what the next session is for. The repository’s argument hint expects a focus statement such as:
- “Continue debugging the TypeScript build failure in the payments package.”
- “Pick up the landing page copy review and finalize the CTA variants.”
- “Resume implementation of the auth flow after the API schema changes.”
A vague request like “make a handoff” produces a weaker document. A focused next-session goal helps the skill decide what belongs in the handoff and what can be omitted.
Read the right files before writing
The skill is intentionally lightweight, so the main source is SKILL.md. Also check any nearby project artifacts the skill references instead of copying them into the handoff:
README.mdAGENTS.mdmetadata.jsonrules/,resources/,references/, orscripts/folders if they exist
If the work is already captured in a PRD, plan, ADR, issue, diff, or commit, the handoff should link to that instead of repeating it. That keeps the document short and makes the next agent faster.
Write for the next agent, not for yourself
A strong handoff document usually includes:
- the current goal and status
- decisions already made
- open questions or blockers
- exact file paths, URLs, or artifacts to inspect next
- any suggested skills for the follow-up session
This is the main usage principle: make the next step obvious without re-explaining the whole project history.
handoff skill FAQ
Is handoff only for long conversations?
No. handoff is useful whenever the next agent should start with less setup time, even after a short but complex exchange. It is most valuable when there are decisions, dependencies, or source artifacts to preserve.
How is this different from an ordinary prompt?
An ordinary prompt often asks for a summary and stops there. The handoff skill is more opinionated: it is meant to produce a transfer document, avoid duplication, and point to the canonical artifacts the next session should use.
Is handoff suitable for beginners?
Yes, if you can name the next task clearly. Beginners get the best results when they provide a simple focus statement and let the skill organize the transfer into a useful brief.
When should I not use handoff?
Do not use handoff when the next session does not need continuity, or when the necessary context is already fully captured in an existing artifact that the next agent will read directly.
How to Improve handoff skill
Make the next-session goal specific
The quality of the handoff output depends on how sharply you define the next session. Better inputs name the exact phase, subsystem, or decision point, not just the general project.
Point to source of truth artifacts
If the current work lives in a doc, issue, or diff, include those references so the handoff can stay compact. This matters because the skill is designed not to duplicate material already stored elsewhere.
Include constraints and open questions
The most useful handoff documents capture what is unresolved: implementation blockers, tradeoffs, reviewer concerns, or assumptions that still need confirmation. Those details help the next agent avoid repeating earlier dead ends.
Suggest follow-up skills when relevant
The skill explicitly asks for next-session skill suggestions, so include them when the next task would benefit from a different workflow. For example, a handoff may point the next agent toward planning, coding, or review-oriented skills depending on the remaining work.